Chapter 34
D A N T E
I was in my office, going through a few paper work the door opened and Antonio Valenti walked in without knocking.
He is my best friend since we were boys, he returned from England a day before Nonna’s birthday, he’s been a way for a while handling business at his father’s company and now that he’s transferred to New York, moving the business here, I’d be seeing a lot of his face.
“You look like hell,” he said, dropping into the chair across from my desk.
I didn’t answer I just let out a breath my thoughts wondering back to Ariana.
God she’s in my every day thought, she has me wrapped around her fingers and she doesn’t even know that.
“So,” Antonio said, leaning forward. “You finally got her the mystery girl from the club all those years ago the one you could not forget p>
I finally turned to look at him. “I have her but I do not have her p>
Antonio raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean p>
“It means she is my wife, but she hates me, she’s the most stubborn, difficult, infuriating woman I have ever met.” I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated. “And I cannot stop thinking about her p>
Antonio chuckled. “Love makes you crazy, my friend p>
“It is not love,” I snapped, but the words felt like a lie.
“When are you going to tell her the truth?” Antonio asked, his voice serious now. “That it was you that night at the club? That you are the one who took her virginity? That you have been looking for her ever since? That you basically bought her from her father to finally have her p>
I stood up and started pacing. “I cannot tell her that p>
“Why not p>
“Because she already thinks I am a monster! What do you think she will do if she finds out I arranged our marriage? That I paid her father for her? That our first time together was a lie because I knew who she was and she did not know me?” I shook my head. “She will never forgive me, she’ll leave p>
“She might surprise you,” Antonio said softly.
“No.” I stopped pacing, my hands clenched”She is too proud, too strong, it’ll feel like the ultimate betrayal and she will be right p>
Antonio sighed. “You cannot keep this secret forever, Dante. The truth always comes out p>
I knew he was right but the thought of losing Ariana, of seeing the hatred in her eyes when she learned what I had done, was worse than any business loss, any physical pain.
I had my wife and I was living a lie, and every day that passed, the lie felt heavier.
My phone buzzed on my desk, it was Marco, the head of my security team.
I answered immediately. “Marco. What is it p>
“Sir,” Marco’s voice was tense. “There is… a situation. Mrs. Russo was just sighted leaving the Melendez Corporation building p>
I sat up straighter. “And? Report p>
“She was… in distress, sir, she was running in tears p>
My blood went cold as I stood up so fast my chair rolled back and hit the wall Antonio’s brow’s furrows in confusion.
“Crying?” I growled into the phone. “What happened? Who upset her p>
“We do not know, sir she ran out of her father’s office. She told the guards not to follow her and looked p>
My heart was pounding now a dark, cold rage started to build inside me. Her fucking father!
That man!
God!
“Where did she go?” I asked, my voice low and dangerous.
“We do not know, sir, she hailed a cab and left. We lost her p>
“YOU LOST HER?” I roared, making Antonio jump. “Find her! I do not care what it takes! Use every resource! Find out where that cab took her! NOW p>
“Yes, sir! Right away, sir!” Marco said quickly before hanging up.
I grabbed my jacket from the back of my chair. My hands were shaking with anger
“Dante, what is it?” Antonio asked, standing up.
“It is Ricardo,” I snarled, my jaw clenched so tight it hurt. “He did something, he fucked ho something yet again, if I don’t kill this man, so help me god p>
I headed for the door. “I am going to Melendez Corp. Now p>
“Do you want me to come with you?” Antonio asked, following me.
“No,” I said, not slowing down. “This is between me and greedy bastard p>
I was going to find out what that bastard had done to Ariana and then, I was going to make him regret it.
My knuckles were white on the steering wheel as I drove to the Melendez Corp.
I was done, done playing nice, with the business games.
The only reason I had not destroyed Ricardo Melendez already was because of Ariana she was his daughter and despite everything, a part of her still cared for him and I saw it in her eyes.
I did not want to be the one to take her father from her.
But after today? I don’t think I’d be linient anymore.
That protection was gone.
He had hurt what was mine.
And for that, he would pay.
I parked my car right in front of the building, not caring about the rules throwing the door open and marched inside.
The guards saw my face and immediately stepped aside, their eyes wide with fear.
I did not stop at the reception, or wait for the elevator I took the stairs two at a time, my rage fueling me.
I reached his office floor and stormed down the hallway.
His assistant tried to stop me.
“Mr. Russo, you cannot p>
I pushed past her without a word, I did not break my stride grabbing the handle of his office door and threw it open.
Ricardo Melendez was sitting behind his big, expensive desk, looking over some papers. He looked up, annoyed at the interruption. Then he saw it was me. His face went pale.
“Dante,” he said, trying to sound calm. “This is a surprise. Do we have a meeting I forgot p>
I was across the room in three strides I did not say a word, I reached across his desk, grabbed the front of his expensive suit, and yanked him out of his chair.
He gasped, his eyes bulging in shock and fear.
“Where is she?” I growled, my face inches from his.
“I… I don’t know what you’re p>
I slammed him against the wall a painting escaped. “WHERE IS MY WIFE p>
His bravado cracked.
He looked terrified.
He should be.
“You think you can touch what is mine?” I hissed, my voice low and deadly. “You think you can mess with her? I thought she stopped being yours the minute I paid your greedy ass! You have made your last mistake, Ricardo p>
The games were over.
I was not here forbusiness.
I was here for blood.